Digital vs SLR. Horses for courses

Advantages: SLR Control creativity expandable
Disadvantages: SLR Immediacy cost size

...I'm surprised there are so few opinions on this subject - everybody seems to be talking about the great debate digital vs SLR. So here are my few thoughts. This isn't comprehensive - never could be, but I hope it helps. Let me structure my opinion by users - find the type you are closest to and see if you agree or disagree. CASUAL PHOTOGRAPHER - HOLIDAY SNAPPER You probably want to use your camera for pictures of the kids, holidays, birthdays, weddings, friends and families - and don't need extra lenses, filters or flashes to carry around. Here you probably don't want to learn about photographic technique, wouldn't ever own or use a darkroom (wet or digital). You are looking for convenience in size, weight and cost. Most likely to use a 35mm compact camera, maybe with a zoom, cost anywhere between £25 and £150...

mikefrench 15.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Digital Vs SLR

Go for an SLR

Advantages: SLR's are cheaper! Development is cool!
Disadvantages: Digital is convenient! Plus colour is easier!

...If your considering buying a camera, and you have a similar mindset to me, you could never go digital. To put things in perspective, I have just finished a photography GCSE course and got a B. I have just started A-level, and have aspirations to go to university and do a BA in photography. I really don't care much about cameras, but I can recognise the fact that a camera does help a photographer improve. The debate shouldn't be Digital vs. SLR - it should be 35mm vs. Medium Format! Limiting yourself to an SLR is pretty constricting when you consider the options. Digital is out of the question for anyone who wants to do anything creative with their photography - you lose access to the darkroom (unless you print transparencies on your printer), which is the best way to have fun with photography. Photoshop is a good way of getting...

bigbtommy 12.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Digital Vs SLR

SLR rules

Advantages: cheaper than digital
Disadvantages: You need to actually think about the shots you take

...For the serious photographer there are two options when buying a camera. Either a state of the art digital machine, or the slightly outdated but considerably cheaper (cameras which use a system of mirrors to let the user see directly through the lens). If money weren?t an object, many people would choose a digital camera, however many of us don?t want to go out and blow a large amount of money on a digital camera. There may be a feeling when buying a digital camera that you are ?settling for less.? This is by no means the case, and I aim to show you a few techniques that will enable you to take superb pictures with an SLR camera. Personally, I use a Practika SLR from the mid eighties. In fact, I am only slightly older than the camera. Using this camera I have taken (if I do say so myself) excellent shots in Glasgow, mainly thanks to...

Chaotic1 14.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Digital Vs SLR

Excellent entry-level digital SLR

Advantages: Great quality and value for money, feature-rich, the good old dependable Nikon name
Disadvantages: None really, unless you need more megapixels and more features for pro use

...I bought this gorgeous digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera just over a year ago and am head over heels in love with it. Although only the entry level D range Nikon at 6.1 megapixels, it is an absolutely brilliant piece of kit (as you would expect from Nikon) for the money and produces impressively high quality photos. I?ve been an avid photographer for many years, and my trusty ancient Minolta SRT-101 SLR served me extremely well for more than two decades until I decided to try digital. At first I bought a Nikon Coolpix a few years ago, as prices for digital cameras were a lot higher then and that was as much as I could afford, and alternated between the Coolpix and the SRT depending on whether I wanted just snapshots or something that needed setting up in a more creative way. But having had the opportunity last year to purchase...

thereddragon 10.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Nikon D40

A new breed of professional digital SLR

Advantages: Superb build quality. Compact size. Ease of use
Disadvantages: Expensive lenses. Dark viewfinder

...manufacturers. At the moment, though, lens choice is a bit limited and the lenses are not cheap: although I did say this is a pro camera and the quality of the lenses is admirable. Olympus have gone out on a limb by producing the first digital SLR built from scratch-i.e. not being based on an existing film camera design. The result is a pleasure to work with. Just don't expect a bargain for a while....

Kendalian 24.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Olympus E-1 Digital SLR

Digital encourages experimentation

Advantages: Digital: Instant results, ready for web/email; SLR: Ergonomic controls, fast shooting speed
Disadvantages: Digital: Initial cost, battery life; SLR: Film cost, bulky

...I used to use a Nikon F801s SLR and now use a Nikon Coolpix 950 (see my review in the appropriate section!) and I feel that 'prosumer' digital cameras like the latter have some significant advantages over wet film SLRs... When I used the SLR, it tended to stay in a case most of the time and emerge for specific events, holidays, etc. By contrast, I now greatly annoy my friends by pulling out my Coolpix 950 at every opportunity. The only way to improve your photography is by experimentation and practice. With a digital camera, you can instantly see the results on the screen to see what works and what doesn't and you are freed from the restriction of film and processing costs. I've shot 2,000 exposures so far on my digital camera, and I can't imagine I'd have got through 55 36-exposure rolls in the same time. This allows...

jonball 25.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Digital Vs SLR

Sony Alpha A200 (Digital SLR)

Advantages: Price, brand, quality
Disadvantages: Manual modes

...I purchased this camera last year and have since used it more a variety of general and professional photos. As a basic digital SLR it does a very good job and is perfect for general and amateur photography with a variety of easy to use features and image stabilisation technology. When set to "Auto" mode, the camera will do pretty much everything for you and will work out exposure and focus with very good precision. A fast image processor also helps for taking quick snaps! There are a number of useful modes for adapting the camera quickly and easily to different kinds of photos and lighting conditions and the lens supplied will give you a good range of shots. I have also tried taking some more professional photos with this camera as well, using the manual features and different lenses. One very handy point to mention is that this...

yatzue 06.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200K

A great introduction to Digital SLR photography.

Advantages: Lightweight and compact, easy to use in "Auto" mode
Disadvantages: comes without memory card

...on the "auto" mode for a few days, I will update this review as I go on, and find my feet with the camera, but so far so good it feels well built, For the money to me it's a prefect introduction into the digital SLR camera world, and I feel confident that it will help me learn a lot more about this new hobby of mine and give me much pleasure in the years to come. (so much so that I put "excellent" for reliability and durability in the boxes below) :-) UPDATE: 11/04/08 So, I have been living with this camera for a while now, and just keep getting more and more impressed by its ability to "keep up" with the "big boys" I have taken numerous photographs with it, and even had a couple featured in the local press, and on the BBC website. - much to the annoyance of some local "professionals" :-) I also have now purchased a 55-200 VR zoom...

brianmcc 23.01.2007 (11.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of Nikon D40

Easy to use, high quality digital SLR

Advantages: Great price, excellent image quality & easy to use
Disadvantages: Night shot is not too good

...Having owned this camera for a few months now, I feel I have learnt enough about the camera to write a review on it. I would genuinely recommend this to anyone who wants a good quality SLR at an amazing price! QUALITY: With 10.2 megapixels, the image quality of the pictures produced from this is excellent. Fine detail can be captured with one simple click. The night shot is not as clear as daytime shots, and needs to be used with a tripod in order to stop camera shake and image blurring. The zoom with the 18-55mm lens is good, and is able to capture detail from far away. SIZE & APPEARANCE: Nikon branded this camera as 'its most compact yet', and weighing just over 16 ounces, it is very easy to transport around. The camera looks similar to all other Nikon cameras; with its black casing and minimal colour. The strap has 'Nikon' in yellow...

hkwilson 31.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Nikon D60

Superb Digital SLR

Advantages: Great pictures, easy to use
Disadvantages: None that I've found yet

...I've owned the Nikon D80 for just over a year and I have to say, having been so reluctant to go digital for many years, it's probably the best thing I've ever bought. It's compact by DSLR standards and relatively easy to use, there is plenty of learning to do at first, but if you've owned a Nikon before (as I have) you shouldn't have any trouble getting to grips with it. Nikon are superb when it comes to quality cameras for a reasonable price. The quality of the pictures on this one is brilliant. There are several different modes, so you can either do everything yourself or let the camera do it all for you. It takes wonderful landscape shots and also, with the continuous shoot function, copes well with the sports shoots. It's so comfortable to use and responds superbly. If you already own a Nikon (even 35mm) your lenses will...

vwelsby 30.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Nikon D80